Method and apparatus for filling cans and the like



Sept. 8, 1959 M. BATTINICH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 glam/ p 8, 1959 M. BATTINICH 2,903,023

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CANS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 15. 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 Fig.5 V I Fig.5;

INVENTOR Wvm United rte atent thee METHOD A-NDAPPA-RATUS FOR FILLING CANS AND-THE LIKE The present invention generally relates to the art. of filling containers with liquid, and is more particularly directed towards a novel method and filler valve. for accomplishingtsuch purpose.

Heretofore, there have been developed a wide variety of filler valves which are usually arranged circumferentially around the bottom of abowl containing the liquid to be dispensed into the respective cans. The cans are delivered underneath the bowl in alignment with the respective valves, and suitable means are incorporated with such-valves to effect an opening thereof at one portion of bowl rotation so that liquid from the bowl may enter the open topped can. As. an example of one type of such valve, reference may be had to myv copending application, Serial'No. 598,371, wherein a valve of this character is disclosed.

In the art of filling cans, the capacity requirements areconstantly. being increased so that a larger number of cans may be. filled in a. given period of time. Obviously, the. longer. it takes the liquid from the bowl to flow intothe can, the longer such filling period will require. However, it has been found that if the can orcontainer ztotbe. filled. is partially. vacuumizedor. evacuated prior tothe introduction: of the liquid, the liquid inthe bowl will, be assisted bythe pressure differential between the bowlv and can andrapidly fill the same. This results in a. minimum filling. period required for each can and optimum output of filled containers.

It is thereforev an object of. the present invention to provide a filling valve and a method of filling cans in which theccan is simply. and effectively evacuated prior to the introduction of liquid therein.

Another object of. the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described. which isextrernely simple in construction and operation, which eliminates theneed for conventional springs. andother valve closing mechanisms, and which may be incorporated ona liquid. filler. bowl with a minimum of expense or difficulty.

A further objectof the invention is to providea. filler valve. and.method of filling cans in which the can is evacuated prior tofilling so as to expedite the filling. operation, and thecanis then ventedto the atmosphere so as. to break the vacuum. seal between the can and.

valve and effect airelease thereof.

The invention possesses; other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set. forth in .thefollowing description, of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and, forming part of: the specification. It isto be understood,,howev.er, that variations in-the showingmadeby, the, said drawings and description may be adoptedwithin the, scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring .to said drawings:

Figure 1. is, a top plan view of a portion of a filling. apparatus including the valve of ,the presentinventionr FigureZ is a,cro'ssse,ctional,elevational view taken substantially in'the plane indicatedby line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is another cross-sectional view taken substantially inthe plane indicatedby line 44 of Figure 1. Figures 5 through. 8 are generally diagrammatic views illustrating the valve in various operational positions.

In broad terms, the apparatus and method of the present invention comprises the positioning of a valve adjacent the-bottom of a receptacle or bowl, bringing a can tonbe filled subjacent said bowl and in alignment with the valve, then producing a partial vacuum in the container so as to evacuate most of the air therefrom, opening the valve to place the interior of the can in communication with the bowl whereby a combination of liquid head and. pressure differential willv cause the liquid to rapidlyfi'ow from the bowl to the container, and then venting the can to the atmosphere so as to break the vacuum seal between the container and valve. Such an arrangement will produce an extremely rapid and efficient means of filling, while insuring a proper maintenance of liquid height lIlIhC individual containers.

Referring now more specifically to the structure disclosed in thedrawings, the valve of the present invention is adapted. to be operatively installed on a receptacle or filler bowl, generally indicated by the numeral 12 and including sidewalls 1-3 and a bottom wall 14-. The bowl bottom. 14 is provided. with a plurality of circumferentially, spaced-openings 16 in which vthe valves 17' of the present invention are, adapted to be operatively inserted. As is-eornmon-with this type offilling arrangement, the bowl as well as the valves mounted thereon, rotate about a central vertical axis, and cans are fed underneath the bowl and -inaxial alignment with the respective valves so that during the approximate 330 degree of rotation during which they are in contact with the. valves, the valves will open and liquid from the bowl'12 will flow into the can, the valves close, and the can is then separated. and discharged from the bowl. knownzin the art, theprimary engagement and separation of the can from the valves is effected by providing a lift for the cans as they approach the bowl which forces the same into engagement with thefilling valves and then, is caused to descend to effect a separation thereof. As this arrangement is well known in the art, no detailed description is deemed necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

Each of the valves 17 includes a stationary cylindrical plate-like member 21 having a fiat horizontal lower surface-22, and a similar upper surface 23 providedwith a central circular raised boss 24. Member 21 may be mounted on thebottom of bowl 1-3 in any suitable manner inconcentric relation to the opening 16 therein. The upper outer peripheral surface of the member is formed with an annular ring 26 against which a can sealing gasket 27 bears. In this manner, when a cylindrical can 28 is raised towards member 21, the can head will engage gasket 27 and provide a seal between the can and the lower valve surface 22.

Fora purpose to be hereinafter explained, member 21 is provided'with a centralaxial bore 31 extending from upper surface 2.3 to a position medially of the upper and lower surfaces. Also, adjacent the outer periphery of the; member, a similar vertical bore'32 is provided with a transverse bore 33 providing free communication betweenithe lower ends of the respective bores. The upper end ofbore32' may be threadedto receive a vertical tube 34 whose upper endpreferably extends beyond the upper edge'of the bowl, or in any event, above the. liquidlevel therein. Another vertical bore 36 is provided in member. 21in the area of the boss, such-bore-extending completely ithrough the surfaces 22 and 23-thereof and-serves as a liquid passage from the interior of the bowl to the Also, as is. well uously gravitationally fiow through passage 36 in absence of some control mechanism to selectively open and close the same. In accordance with the present invention, such mechanism includes a disk-like valve member 39 having parallel horizointal upper and lower surfaces 41 and 42 respectively and a diameter substantially equal to that of the raised boss 24. The lower surface of member 39 is disposed in rotatable sealing engagement with the upper surface of the boss and the member is maintained in axial concentricity with the boss by means of a housing 43. The latter includes a vertical cylindrical sleeve 44 having a horizontal flange 46 extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof at diametrically opposed portions. The distal ends of flange 46 are formed with vertical legs 47, the lower ends of which are provided with arcuate inwardly directed flanges 48, the latter having suitable apertures for receiving machine screws 49, engageable with tapped holes in surface 23 of member 21 for securing the housing to such member. In this manner, the opposed flanges 48 bear against the peripheral edge of boss 24 and likewise against the outer peripheral surface of the upper valve plate 39 so as to maintain the latter in proper position overlying the stationary valve member 21.

Valve member 39 is provided with a vertical passage 51 extending therethrough, and preferably, such passage extends along an arcuate path from the axial center of the member, and is positioned to selectively register with filler passage 36 upon rotation of the member. Also, as an important feature of the invention, lower surface 42 of valve member 39 is provided with a diametrical groove 52, extending for substantially the entire horizontal width of the member, and disposed in generally normal relationship to a diameter including the center of passage 51. As will be clear from the drawings, groove 52 has substantially the same width as bore 31 of member 21 and is in continuous communication therewith during rotation of valve 39. However, it will also be noted that the ends of the groove will communicate with filler bore 36 in member 21 during such rotation, that is, during each 360 degrees of rotation, filler bore 36 will be twice placed in communication with bore 31 for a purpose to be explained in connection with a description of the operation of the valve mechanism.

To effect rotation of valve member 39, the upper surface 41 thereof is provided with a cylindrical boss 56 having a continuous diametrical slot 57 therethrough and adapted to receive a depending lug 58 of a drive shaft 59. Shaft 59 is journalled in housing sleeve 44 for free rotation, and at its upper end is provided four equally circumferentially spaced cams 61 adapted to be engaged by stationary trip members, not shown, provided adjacent the bowl. With this arrangement, which forms no independent part of the present invention, as the, respective cams 61 are engaged by the trip members, the shaft 59 and the valve member 39 will be rotated through a ninety degree cycle, and then remain in such position until the bowl rotates sufiiciently to permit the next cam to be engaged.

In view of the above, an explanation of the functioning of the parts is in order, and for a better understanding of the operational cycle, reference may be had to Figures through 8 of the drawings.

Figure 5 illustrates the position of the parts when a can 28 is first brought into engagement with the sealing gasket 27. As shown, valve member 39 is positioned so that groove 52 as well as passage 51 is offset from filler passage 36 in the stationary valve member. Next, as seen in Figure 6, member 39 has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise whereby groove 52 registers with the filler passage 36. Thus, the interior of the can 28 has free communication to the tube 34 through passage 36, groove 52,

and bores 31, 33 and 32. Accordingly, conditions prevailing in said tube will be imparted to the can.

As an important feature of this invention, the upper end of tub 34 is provided with a hollow horizontal extension 66 having a downwardly directed hollow element 67 at the end thereof. A stationary vacuum header 68 extends adjacent a portion of the bowl periphery and communicates through ducts 69 to an arcuate shoe 71 having a plurality of upwardly directed openings 72 provided thereon and registrable with element 67 upon bowl rotation. Thus, as the bowl rotates, element 67 will be placed in communication with the vacuum shoe, and with the valve positioned as illustrated in Figure 6, effectively evacuate air from the can. The reason for providing a plurality of openings 72 is so that more than one can will not be in direct communication with the shoe at any one time. This situation could well result in a partially evacuated can communicating with a new can under atmospheric conditions and effecting a pressure rise in the former.

As the bowl continues its rotation, element 67 will pass the end of shoe 71 with the can substantially vacuumized and during this period, valve member 39 is caused to rotate another ninety degrees to the position shown in Figure 7. In such position, the passages 51 and 36 will be in registration, thereby permitting liquid in the bowl to gravitationally flow into the can, the evacuated condition of the latter greatly increasing the pressure differential between the head and bowl resulting in extremely rapid filling.

Following the filling cycle, the valve member is rotated to a position shown in Figure 8 with groove 52 placing bore 31 and passage 36 again in communication. This position is somewhat analogous to the evacuation position illustrated in Figure 6, except thatin the present instance, the tube 34 is not in communication with a vacuum source, but merely to the atmosphere. This atmosphere venting effects a release of the vacuum seal between can and valve and permits a lowering of the can away from the filling mechanism.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated that mere rotational displacement of the upper valve member 39 will permit the successive cycles of sealing, can evacuation, liquid filling and atmospheric venting. Obviously, the circumferential displacement of the cam trip members for effecting rotation of shaft 59 is not necessarily uniform as the evacuation and filling cycles will occupy the greater portions of bowl rotation. The parts are all simple to construct and to disassemble for cleaning and may be depended upon ,to perform their requisite functions over extended periods of time with little or no special servicing.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character described including a stationary plate having upper and lower surfaces and a single first bore extending between said surfaces, means defining a second central axial bore extending from said upper surface of said plate and terminating medially of said surfaces, in radial spaced relation to said first bore, said plate having a horizontal bore in communication with said second bore and extending exteriorly of said plate, a movable valve member in planar contact with said stationary plate and adapted to rotate about the axis of the latter in sliding relation thereto, said valve member having a diametrical groove in the surface thereof confronting said stationary plate with a medial portion of said groove in continuous communication withsaid second bore during valve member rotation and sequential communication with said first bore, whereby upon each rotation of said movable plate, said second bore and first bore will be twice placed in communication with each other through said groove, and

said movable plate further having an axial passage therethrough lying. substantially .on a diameter thereof normally related to the diameter of said groove and adapted to overlie said stationary plate first bore once during each rotation of the valve member.

2. A filler valve comprising a stationary disk-like member adapted for mounting in a bottom opening of a liquid supply bowl, said member having a central axial bore extending from the upper surface thereof and a transverse bore communicating With the bottom of said axial bore positioned intermediate the upper and lower surface of said member, said member further having an axial filler bore extending therethrough in parallel radial- 1y spaced relation to said central bore and oifset from said transverse bore, a rotatable valve element overlying said member and said axial bores in rotatable sealing engagement with the upper surface thereof, said element having a diametrically extending groove on the lower surface thereof with a central portion of the groove in continuous communication with said central bore and each end portion of the groove in intermittent engagement with said filler bore upon each plate rotation, and means defining a passage extending axially through said element in spaced relation to said groove and sequentially registrable with said filler bore upon element rotation, and said transverse bore having an end portion uncovered by said valve member.

3. A valve as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said valve passage being positioned along a diameter of said valve substantially normal to the length of said groove.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a vertically disposed shaft engageable with said valve element and extending upwardly therefrom, and means adjacent the upper end of said shaft adapted for engagement with cams to rotate said shaft and valve element.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a vacuum source, a stationary plate having parallel upper and lower surfaces and adapted for mounting in the bottom wall of a liquid supply bowl, said plate having a first and a second generally parallel spaced vertical bore extending from said upper surface to a position medially of said surfaces and a horizontal bore interconnecting the lower ends of said vertical bores, a vertically disposed tube connected to the first of said vertical bores and adapted to be connected to said vacuum source, the second vertical bore being positioned centrally of said plate, said plate further having a third axial bore extending between said surfaces in ofiset relation to said horizontal bore, a rotatable valve element having parallel upper and lower surfaces with the lower surface thereof in rotatable sealing engagement with the upper surface of said plate and overlying said second and third bores, said element having a diametrical groove on the lower surface thereof overlying said second bore and a spaced axial passage sequentially registering with said third bore of said plate upon rotation of said element, and the respective end portions of said groove each registering with said second bore during each rotation of said element.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said tube is operatively connected to said vacuum source when said third bore is in communication with one end portion of said groove and is vented to the atmosphere when said third bore is in communication with the other end portion of said groove.

7. An improved valve comprising a plate adapted for fixed mounting in the bottom of a bowl containing a fluid to be dispensed and including a first central bore and a second parallel bore extending from the upper surface of said plate and terminating upwardly of the lower surface thereof and a third radially spaced axial bore extending completely therethrough, said plate having a horizontal bore interconnecting said first and second bores, a valve member rotatably slidable in sealing engagement on the upper surface of said plate, a bracket including an arcuate horizontal flange secured to the upper surface of said plate with the inner peripheral portion of said flange rotatably journalling said valve member, a sleeve on said bracket in alignment with said central bore, a shaft journalled in said sleeve and engageable with said valve member for rotating the latter upon shaft rotation, and said valve member having conduit means thereon intermittently establishing communication between said first and third bores during plate rotation, and said valve member having a vertical passage therethrough intermittently registering with said third bore during valve member rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,656 Phelps June 30, 1914 1,998,462 Le Frank Apr. 23, 1935 2,543,788 Loveland Mar. 6, 1951 2,656,963 Krueger Oct. 27, 1953 

